Text of MA S 2155 (2025)

1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1116 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2155 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Patricia D. Jehlen _________________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act establishing a commission on the status of transgender people. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: Patricia D. Jehlen Second Middlesex Lindsay N. Sabadosa 1st Hampshire 2/24/2025 James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 3/10/2025 Joanne M. Comerford Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester 3/10/2025 1 of 5 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1116 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2155 By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2155) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Lindsay N. Sabadosa, James B. Eldridge and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to establish a permanent commission on the status of transgender people to conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning transgender people. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ An Act establishing a commission on the status of transgender people. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 Chapter 3 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 edition, is hereby 2 amended by inserting after Section 75 the following new section:- 3 Section 76 4 (1) There is established a permanent commission on the status of transgender people 5 consisting of 20 persons as follows: 5 persons appointed by transgender-led organizations or 6 groups that directly serve, support, or advocate for transgender people in Massachusetts; 2 7 persons appointed by transgender-focused health programs at Massachusetts-based healthcare 8 centers and/or hospitals; 2 persons appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ 9 elders; 2 persons appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ students; 2 10 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals with 11 homelessness or unstable housing; 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports 2 of 5 12 LGBTQ+ people with domestic and/or intimate partner violence; 1 person appointed by an 13 organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people; 1 14 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ sex workers; 1 person 15 appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ people with disabilities; 1 person 16 appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals with immigration, 17 seeking asylum/refugee status, or other non-citizen statuses; 1 person appointed by an 18 antipoverty organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals; and 1 person appointed by 19 an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ veterans. The membership of the commission 20 shall include at least: 10 transgender persons, total; 2 transgender persons between the ages of 21 18-24; 2 transgender persons aged 60 or older; and 2 representatives of the mental health 22 professions. 23 (2) Members of the commission shall be drawn from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, age, 24 gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic backgrounds and shall have had experience 25 working toward the improvement of the status of transgender people in society. Members shall 26 also be drawn from throughout the commonwealth to ensure broad representation. Members 27 shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 268A as they apply to special state employees. The 28 commission shall be an independent agency of the government of the commonwealth and shall 29 not be subject to the control of any other department or agency. 30 (3) (a) Members shall serve terms of three years and until their successors are appointed. 31 (b) Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original 32 appointing authority for the balance of the unexpired term. 3 of 5 33 (c) appointments shall be made in consultation with transgender rights organizations. 34 Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 of each year through an open 35 application process using a uniform application that is widely distributed throughout the state. 36 (d) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer 37 and any other officers it deems necessary. 38 (e) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but 39 shall be reimbursed for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their 40 duties. 41 (4) The commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning transgender 42 people. In furtherance of that responsibility, the commission shall: (a) study, review and report 43 on the status of transgender people in the commonwealth; 44 (b) inform leaders of business, education, health care, state and local governments and the 45 communications media of issues pertaining to transgender people; 46 (c) serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with 47 issues affecting transgender people; 48 (d) serve as a clearinghouse for information on issues pertaining to transgender people; 49 (e) identify and recommend qualified transgender people for appointive positions at all 50 levels of government, including boards and commissions, as the commission deems necessary 51 and appropriate; 52 (f) assess programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect transgender people, 53 as the commission deems necessary and appropriate; 4 of 5 54 (g) advise executive and legislative bodies on the effect on transgender people of 55 proposed legislation, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate; and 56 (h) promote and facilitate collaboration among local transgender commissions and among 57 transgender organizations in the state, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate. 58 The commission shall annually, on or before June 2, report the results of its findings and 59 activities of the preceding year and its recommendations to the governor and to the clerks of the 60 senate and house of representatives. 61 (5) The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following: 62 (a) to use such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and 63 organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed; 64 (b) to recommend policies and make recommendations to agencies and officers of the 65 state and local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of subsection (3); 66 (c) to select an executive director and to acquire adequate staff to perform its duties, 67 subject to appropriation; 68 (d) to establish and maintain such offices as it may deem necessary, subject to 69 appropriation; 70 (e) to enact bylaws for its own governance; 71 (f) to appoint members to regional chapters of the commission; and 72 (g) to hold regular, public meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings and other public 73 forums as it may deem necessary. 5 of 5 74 (6) The commission shall meet once every month. The (i) governor, (ii) speaker of the 75 house of representatives, (iii) president of the senate and (iv) designated members of the 76 LGBTQ+ caucus of legislators shall be invited to attend the monthly meetings on a rotating 77 basis. 78 (7) (a) The commission may request from all state agencies such information and 79 assistance as the commission may require. 80 (b) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants 81 or bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this section. Such funds shall be 82 deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, be received by said treasurer on behalf of 83 the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law.